Community Mission & Outreach

First Presbyterian Church Plano is extremely committed to helping those in our local community that may be overlooked or even forgotten. We have three keystone ministries: Clothes Closet, Streetside Showers Clothing, and Plano Overnight Warming Station (POWS).

(1) The Streetside Shower Clothing Ministry (all-year-round):
FPC Plano teamed up with the Streetside Shower Ministry (www.streetsideshowers.com) in June of 2020 to manage and supply basic clothing for those individuals that may find themselves in need of a shower and a change clothes. We currently replenish and distribute clothing from a Streetside Shower owned clothing trailer on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month as well as the following Tuesdays, with periodic exceptions. The Streetside Shower event happens every Saturday, from 10AM to 1PM, at the Assistance Center of Collin County parking lot located at 18th Street and Ave H in Plano as well as every Tuesday at Hope Restored Missions at 1947 Avenue K in Plano. They usually have two mobile shower trailers that serve roughly 65 to 100 participants during that three-hour period. Our ministry distributes roughly 520 pieces of clothing per event.

We have all kinds of ways, for those that feel called to volunteer, to help! Clothing donations are the life blood of this ministry. Men account for about 80% of those that utilize this program, thus, basic men’s clothing like gently used or new tennis shoes/boots, jeans, sweatpants, long and short sleeved t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, coats/jackets, belts, baseball caps, beanies, gloves, and travel-size hygiene products are greatly appreciated! Streetside Showers regularly supply underwear and socks, but if we get donations of those items, we supplement what they distribute. Of course, women’s basic clothing is also needed.

Other ways YOU can make a difference is by: Volunteering to participate with helping distribute clothing on the selected Saturdays and Tuesdays; Prepping donations on Thursday afternoons to be distributed; Volunteering to wash, mend, hem clothing periodically as needed; To call and arrange organizations to hold periodic clothing drives; Occasionally pick up donations from individuals or organizations.

(2) POWS-Plano Overnight Warming Station Clothing Ministry: (late October through mid-March)
FPC Plano manages (preps, packs, and delivers) donated clothing to the warming station for other POWS volunteers to distribute to those utilizing the warming station on cold evenings. POWS (www.planows.org) was created by the homeless coalition of Collin County.

We range from 50 to 150 participants any given activation night and distribute anywhere between 250 to 450 clothing items as well as numerous hygiene items each night the Plano station is open.

Ways YOU can help…once again, roughly 80% of participants are men, thus, basic men’s clothing is always needed. Basic women’s clothing is also needed as well. We can use volunteers to help pack clothing bins that are warming station as needed. Also, pre-packaging underwear and socks is a task that can use volunteers. 
  
Checkout an article about POWS, winter of 2022
Checkout an article about POWS, winter of 2023

(3) Family Clothes Closet Ministry: (all-year-round)
Our Clothes Closet has been in operation since the mid 1960s. It is dedicated to helping families and individuals with clothing needs in our community. Adult and children’s clothing are available as well as smaller household items, toys and even jewelry.

The Clothes Closet is located at our church on Wednesdays from 10AM to noon. Those that would like to use the Clothes Closet can simply come by the church between 10AM and 11AM to get served by noon.

If you would like further information regarding the 3 Clothing Ministries, please contact the Church. We are the Clothing Church, “Clothing Body and Soul.” Matthew 25: 35-40…” I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked, and you clothed me…”

Food for the Hungry

We support God's Food Pantry at their new location, 1896 K Ave #200, Plano, TX 75074.  Please put all your food donations in the bins under the coat racks as you enter the building. One of the greatest needs is protein, such as tuna fish and Spam. Breakfast cereals are important for kids. Consider those generic large bags of cereal.
 
Diapers and baby food are always needed. If you go to Sam's or Costco, consider picking up multi-packs of food items.

Additional Outreach Programs

Valentines Boxes for church members who are serving in the military or are away at college. 

The Annual Cookie Caper sale raises funds benefiting CITY House (Collin Intervention to Youth) located in downtown Plano. CITY House ”serves youth ages newborn to 21-years old.”
Their programs include:
  o  Emergency Shelter, ages newborn to 18 years
  o  Youth and Family Services
  o  Transitional Living Program
  o  Rapid Rehousing Program 

For more information visit City House.

FPC sponsors families through the Christmas Adopt-A-Family Program from the Assistance Center of Collin County. This program has been matching families in need with individuals or group sponsors to provide gifts for their children and one month’s worth of food at Christmas time for over 20 years. 
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Click HERE to read the Synod of the Sun article about our FPC Plano ministry with Streetside Showers.

ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020
the Plano Star Courier also wrote an article about FPC Plano partnering with Streetside Showers.
Click HEREto read that article.